Stop-motion for knitting-machines.



J. HEPPELER.

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED JULY 3', 1911.

1 055 4 0 Patented Mar. 11,1913.

ABLE Cori" JOSEPH EEEPELER, 03? ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN,

Q'IfiliVIDTION FOR l-ZNITTING-MACHINES.

Michigan, have invented a certain'new and useful Improvement in Stop-Motions for KnittingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention contemplates a device for automatically stopping a knitting machine when a needle breaks or the yarn, for any.

reason, becomes snarled or clogged in the needles. Prior to my invention it was a common occurrence for knitting machines of this kind,to cause considerable trouble in this manner. This is particularly true of what are called the ribbed top knitting machines, as in such case obstructions are very often encountered as a result of broken needles, lumps of yarn, big knots, etc. W hen an accident of thiskind occurs, it is possible for a large quantity of yarn to almost instantly accumulate in the form of a' mass or snarl. This necessitates an expenditure of time and labor in clearing outthe machine, after an irregularity of this character, and a consequent loss of labor and material. There is not only a waste of '2lll'1 when accidents of this kind happen, but'there is also liable to be a large loss of needles as wellthat is to say, many needles will be broken.

Moreover, accidents of this character result very often, even where the operatives are careful, in irregularities or imperfections in thefabric. Prior to my invent-ion some effort has been made to correct this trouble. I do not, however, regard these efforts being entirely satisfactory.

The object of my invention is, therefore, to provide a novel and improved device which will automatically stop the knitting machine as soon as anything occurs which, should the machinecontinne running, would result in breakage of the needles, snarling up of the yarn, and a consequent loss of tlII1 and labor. v

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 shows two views of the finger portion of Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed July S, 1911. Serial No. 837,588.

Patented Mar. tit, ll ll the attachable safety device, the first view being a front elevation, and the second view being a bottom plan. Fig. 2- is a. plan view of the arm or bell crank which sci es as-a medium of communication between the linger of Fig. l and the power transmitting connection for the machine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the post upon which the member shown in Fig. 2 is mounted. Fig. t is a perspective of the upper portion of a knitting machine, showing the arrangement of the needles in two rows, which arrangement is characteristic of ribbed top knitting machines, and showing also the method of attaching my said safety device in position to automatically stop the machine as soon as anything occurs which is liable to make serious trouble, such as snarling up of the yarn, breakage. of the needles, etc.

As thus illustrated, the knitting machine is of the kind commonly known as a rib top machine, and can be of any suitable, known or approved character. As shown, it comprises the ordinary rotary head A. and has the customary or usual innerand outer needles, the inner needles B being horizontal and radial and surrounded by the outer vertical. needles C, the usual dial plateD being disposed above. The balance' of the machine proper is of the ordinary andwell known form, and will notvrequire further description.

The post E is not found in the ordinary machine, and is provided a support for the bell crank shaped lever F, this lever lie-- ing pivoted at the top of the post at its elbow, whereby it is free to move or swing in a horizontal plane. The power transmitting connection I can be of any suitable, known or approved form, and as shown is controlled in any suitable manner, by a Vertically movable pin G having its upper end g provided with a notch g in the side thereof. This notch g is normally engaged by the end portion of the bell crank lever F, as shown in Fig. 4. l v

The metal holder or bracket H is mount ed upon the periphery or side of the, dial plate D, being provided with a vertical slot h for the fastening screw it which enters the dial plate. This holder or bracket is provided with a depending finger I which is pivoted at its upper end atz' and provided at'its lower end with a curved portion 2", in the manner shown in Fig, 1. This finger I hangs in the space between the outer and inner needles, and works in the slot f of the bell crank lever F, whereby any movement of the finger, when it strikes an obstruction, will cause the bell crank lever to disengage itself from the notch 'g inthe said post of the power transmitting connection. The curved or slightly hooked lower end of said finger enables it to more readily engage and hold on to the knot or snarl in the needles, and more readily detect a broken needle. A spring f is hitched to the slotted arm of the bell crank lever at one end, and has its other end secured to a screw f inserted in the side or periphery of the dial. The said spring, by this arrangement, tends to keep the portion f of the bell crank lever in engagement with the slot of the said pin. But when an abnormal obstruction, such as a knot or snarl occurs in the space between the two concentric rows of needles, and this obstruction strikes the finger I, the portion f of the bell crank lever is thereby disengaged from the notch g, which permits the pin G to move downward and open thepower transmitting connection in any suitable or desired manner. Thus any accir'lent will serve automati cally to stop the machine and thereby prevent the breakage of the needles and the clogging of the yarn which usually follow an accident of this kind.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I make provision for curing what has heretofore been a serious trouble in the actual use of knitting machines of this kind, by a very simple and sensitive device. A very slight mishap would often instantly develop, by the continued operation of the machine, into a large sized-trouble that is to say, the yarn would begin to pile up, and the continued operation of the machine would result in breakage of the needles. Thus there was a considerable loss incident to the use of machines of this kind, by reason of the breakage of large quantities of needles, the spoiling of large quantities of yarn, and the expenditure of time and labor in straightening out the trouble and getting the machine back in condition to continue with the work. Eli'orts have been made to overcome this trouble, but without entire satisfaction. By my invention, however, I obviate this trouble, and make it possible to operate a machine of this kind on a much more econon'lica basis than With my invention, which is applied as an attaclunent to a machine of this kind, the machine is antonmtimilly stopped before a small trouble can develop into a large and heretofore.

serious trouble.- In this way a considerable saving is accomplished. I

The object-of my invention'is, therefore, to protect the needles in a more satisfactory manner than heretofore. Moreover, it will be seen that the support H is adjustable up and down to bring the finger I as near the needles as possible or desirable. The finger Lworks close to the needles, and with its end actually between the ends of the inner and outer needles, whereby it is always in readiness toact quickly and instantly as soon as anything abnormal occurs, and whereby it will immediately stop the machine and thereby prevent further trouble. The device restores itself automatically, when the pin Gr is returned to normal position. By means of the spring the lever F is held positively in engagement with the notch in the pin G, and the device cannot be released by jarring of the machine. A slight movement of the finger or trouble etector will release the lever F from the pin G, and raising and lowering of the finger does not change its length. This serves also to improve the quality of the fabric, as knots and similarimperfections will not be so frequent as before.- Furthermore, the attachment is ofsuch a simple character that the cost thereof is comparatively small.

Vb-at I claim as my invention is:

1. In a knitting machine, and in combination with the dial cap and needles thereof, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a mounting upon which the upper end of said finger is pivoted, means whereby said mounting is adjustable up and down on theside of said dial cap, and mechanism including an element overlying the said needles. mounted to operate in a horizontal plane, controlled by said finger for stopping the machine.

2. In a knitting machine, and in combi nation with the dial cap and needles thereof,

a snarl or broken needle detector linger, a.-

mounting upon which the upper end ol' said linger is plvolcd, means wln-i'c n. said nmuntiug i :nlius able up and douu on the side of said dial rap. and mechani m con trolled by said linger for stopping the machine, said mechanism comprising a spring post having a notch, and a lever for engaging said notch to hold the post 1n normal position, said lever p1voted to swing about a vertical axis and having engagement with said finger.

4. In a knitting machine and in combination with the dial cap and needles thereof, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a mounting upon which the upper end of said finger is pivoted, means whereby said mounting is adjustable up and down on the side of said dial cap, and mechanism controlled by said finger for stopping the ma chine, said mechanism comprising a lever engaging said finger, a member engaged by the other end of said lever, and a spring for restoring both said lever and finger to normal position.

5. In a knitting machine, and in combination with the dial cap and needles thereof, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a mounting upon which the upper end of said finger is pivoted, means whereby said mounting is adjustable up and down on the side of said dial cap, mechanism controlled by said finger for stopping the machine, and means including a spring for yieldingly holdingbolh said finger and mechanism against moven'ient, operative to restore the finger to normal position.

0. In a knitting machine, and in combinationwith the needles thereof, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, means revolving with the machine for pivoting the finger, a pivoted lever having a loose sliding engagement with said finger, the lever and finger having axes disposed at an angle to each other, and means released by pivotal movement of said lever-do stop the machine.

7, in a knitting machine, and combination with the needles thereof, a snarl. or broken needle detector, and means includa spring for yieldingly holding said finger, said spring being tensioned to move the finger back to normal position, together with means including two elements for stopping said machine when the said finger is operated, said spring normally forcing one element against the other.

S. In a knitting machine, and in combi nation with the needles thereof, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a revolving mounting on which the finger is pivoted, and means whereby said mounting and pivot are adjustable'to thereby raise and lower the said finger, said pivot forming an axis which is fixed relative to said linger.

9. A knitting machine provided with a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a support on which said finger is pivoted, and means whereby said support and pivot are adjustable to thereby raise and lower said finger, said pivot forming an axis which is fixed relative to said finger.

10. In a knitting machine, and incombination with the dial cap and needles thereof, a snarl or brokenneedle detector finger,

a mounting upon which the upper end of.

said fingeris pivoted, mechanism controlled by said fingeri'or-stoppmg the machine, and means on the dial. whereby said mounting 1s adjustable up and down thereon,without disturbing or changing the position of any part of said mechanism, sald mechanism including an element operating in a horizontal plane and overlying the said needles to engage said finger.

11. In a knitting machlne, and in COHllOlnation with the dial cap and needles thereof,

a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a

mounting upon which the upper end of said finger is pivoted, mechanism controlled by said finger for stopping the machine, said mechanism comprising a lever having loose sliding connection with said finger, said lever overlying the said needles to loosely on gagesaid finger, means on the lever for keeping the finger in engagement therewith,

and means on the dial whereby said mount-.

ing is adjustable up and down thereon, WliliOtllllllul'blng or changing the position or any part 0t said mechanism.

12. in a knitting machine, and in combination with the dial cap and needles thereof, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a mounting upon which the upper end of said linger is pivoted, mechanism controlled by said finger for stopping the machine, said mechanism. comprising a spring post having an engaging portion, and a lever for engaging said portion to hold the post in normal position, said lever pivoted to swing about a. vertical axis and having engagement with said finger, and means on the dial. whereby said mounting is adjustable up and down thereon, without disturbing or changing the position of any part of said mechanism.

13. in a knitting machine, and in combination with the dial cap and needles there of, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a mounting upon which the upper end of said finger is pivoted, mechanism controlled by said finger for stopping the machine,

.said mechanism comprising a lever engaging said finger, a member engaged by the other end of said lever, a spring for restor in both said lever and finger to normal po' sition mounted on the dial, and means on the dial whereby said mounting 1s ad1ust- .able up and down thereon, without disturb-- in g or changing the position of any part of said mechanism.

14-. In a knitting machine, and in combination with the dial cap and needles thereof, a snarl or broken needle detector finger, a mounting upon which the upper end of said finger is pivoted, mechanism controlled ell. 1,055,460

by said finger for stopping the machine, 1 elements normally held together by said 10' means including a spring for yieldingly holding both sald finger and mechanism spring.

Signed by me at St. Joseph, Michigan,

against movement, operative to restore the this 80th day of June 1911.

finger to normal position, and means on the dial whereby said mounting is adjustable up and down thereon Without disturbing 0r ehanging the position of any part of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising two JOSEPH HEPPELER. 

